“Max Schmeling” movie premiere

Photos by Photo Wende

The premiere of the hotly-anticipated “Max Schmeling” movie was a huge success yesterday night in Berlin where 800 guests, including many VIPs, athletes and famous actors, enjoyed the first screening. Directed by Uwe Boll, the movie about the eventful life of one of Germany’s biggest sporting heroes received a loud ovation. One legend was impersonated by another one, with former IBF light heavyweight champion Henry Maske playing Schmeling. “Max Schmeling would have liked the movie,” Maske said. “In 2002 there was the first idea about a movie and Max spontaneously said that I should play his role. That is what happened now and it was a lot of fun.”

With Maske starring in his first-ever movie role, Team Sauerland was further represented by cruiserweight hopeful Yoan Pablo Hernandez, who played Joe Louis, Super Six contender Arthur Abraham (Richard Vogt), European Cruiserweight Champion Alexander Frenkel (Young Stribling) and Enad Licina (Jack Sharkey). Just as in real life, Ulli Wegner and Manfred Wolke had coaching roles. Top actors such as Heino Ferch (Max Machon) and Susanne Wuest (Anny Ondra) completed the star-studded line-up – in the movie and on the red carpet in Berlin yesterday. Also attending the premiere were WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck and WBA/WBC/WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus.

“Max Schmeling” will hit the German cinemas on October 7. For more information, visit www.maxschmeling-film.de/